Google has once again moved the goalposts for content creators. Alongside the rollout of the February Discover core update, the search giant has quietly overhauled its Get on Discover documentation. While these tweaks may seem minor at first glance, they signal a significant sharpening of Google’s focus on user experience and content integrity.

If your site relies on Discover for traffic, understanding these revisions is essential for maintaining your visibility.

A Hard Line on Clickbait and Sensationalism

The most striking change is the language Google now uses. In the past, the guidelines were somewhat euphemistic, advising creators to avoid tactics to artificially inflate engagement.

The updated documentation explicitly names clickbait and sensationalism as tactics to avoid. This isn’t just a vocabulary change; it reflects an improved algorithmic ability to identify and penalise content that promises more than it delivers.

Key changes include:

• Headline Clarity: Google has split its guidance on titles into two distinct requirements. It now demands that headlines capture the essence of the content while strictly avoiding clickbait.
• Defining Sensationalism: The updated text moves away from vague warnings about morbid curiosity and directly instructs publishers to avoid sensationalism that manipulates user appeal.

Page Experience Moves to the Forefront

For the first time, Google has explicitly linked Page Experience to Discover eligibility. While Core Web Vitals and mobile-friendliness have long been pillars of traditional Search, they are now officially part of the Discover checklist.

This means that even if your content is top-tier, a sluggish loading speed or a layout shift could see your articles relegated to the sidelines. Providing a seamless, high-quality technical experience is no longer optional for Discover’s success.

Why the Sudden Transparency?

These documentation updates align perfectly with the objectives of the February Core Update. Google’s stated goal is to surface more original, expert-led content while reducing the prevalence of low-quality, noisy articles.

By being more explicit in its guidelines, Google is providing a clearer roadmap for publishers. The update is currently rolling out for English-language users in the United States, with a global rollout across all languages expected in the coming months.

Strategic Takeaways for Publishers

To stay ahead of these changes, publishers should audit their current Discover strategy with a focus on three areas:

1. Editorial Integrity: Review your headline strategy. Ensure they are compelling without being deceptive. If a headline relies on you won’t believe what happened next tropes, it’s time for a rewrite.
2. Technical Health: Revisit your Page Experience reports in Search Console. Pay close attention to mobile performance, as Discover is inherently mobile-first.
3. Originality and Expertise: The update prioritises content from sites with proven expertise. Double down on original reporting and authoritative insights rather than rehashing trending news.

As the algorithm becomes more sophisticated, the tricks of the past are becoming increasingly risky. The message from Google is clear: focus on the user, keep your headlines honest, and ensure your technical foundation is rock solid.

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